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Listing Agent Upsets The Time Space Continuum!

By
Real Estate Agent with Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL 676419

Minutes after I posted on Lenn Harley's Blog DON'T TELL MY AGENTS I'M SENDING BUSINESS AWAY  I received a referral from a relocation company I have done business with for years.  I called the seller's as soon as I did a brief overview of the subject property and neighborhood.

After a series of questions about myself and if I know the neighborhood I get asked about the condition of the market.  I explain, "The market hasn't been without it's hurdles, lately." 

As a matter of fact, none of the homes listed in this particular Bonita Springs neighborhood has sold in several months, which the seller knows. 

The seller says to me, "You really don't give me the warm fuzzy feeling."  I really felt like retorting, "Would you prefer I just lie to you? What do you want to hear?"

It is amazing to me that some paranoid sellers still think it would be fun for us to list their home and:

  • Not sell it, just for fun.  We're all bored and this is what real estate agents do for giggles.
  • Spend thousands of dollars marketing it, with no return on investment.  That spare cash was in the way.
  • Do our part delay their future plans to upset the balance of the universe.
  • Not properly price or market their home to get even with all the undeserving buyers that are clawing to get at it.
  • Keep it in our "collection" because we don't have another one THAT color.  Our friends will be jealous.

:: insert evil laugh ::    ::  Mu hoo haa haa  ::

I love this job.  You just have to love this job.  Don't you?  I said, Don't you?!

 

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Comments (18)

Rick & Ines - Miami Beach Real Estate
Majestic Properties - Miami Beach, FL
That dark sense of humor of yours is awesome Chris.  It really makes me mad when I am called to a listing presentation because a seller values my opinion as a professional, but then don't want to hear the truth.  I put it bluntly.  This is what is happening, this is what I recommend you do.  If you hire someone else because you liked the pretty picture they painted, good luck to you, but please feel free to call me if the property does not sell.  NEXT!
Dec 08, 2006 01:32 PM
Jason Price
Mortgage Financial Group, Inc (NMLS 219650) - Tavares, FL
The Mortgage Rider

Chris, you just "don't give me the warm fuzzy feeling" with posts like this.  It is more a tickling feeling, not to be confused with tinkling.  Because if it was a warm tinkling feeling, we would have some serious problems.

Your story is similar to when a client asks me what kind of loan they qualify for and say something like... oh, well I don't want that. I want this.  Yes, we do have to love our jobs.

PS... where is Marc?  He has not commented on this one, yet. :)

Dec 08, 2006 02:36 PM
Chris Griffith
Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL - Bonita Springs, FL
Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
Hmmm.  Where is Marc?  I figured he'd be all over that one too! 
Dec 08, 2006 09:35 PM
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty
Oh my - and a relocation seller at that.  They should know better - but they rarely do!
Dec 09, 2006 01:46 AM
Marc Blasi
Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Chris-

I have arrived!

Actually I tried to comment on this earlier this AM - as soon as I hit 'Submit Comment' I got: Sorry - System temporarily down for Blah, blah.......

Then I had to start working.. I still haven't won the Lottery..

Hey - the guy in the pic - isn't he from Bullwinkle?

Dec 09, 2006 02:07 AM
Melissa Kruse
Gryphon - Lewis Center, OH

Come on, it's like shoes or sweaters. You can never have to many, even if they pinch your toes or have holes in the elbows. I mean really, don't you get together at the office watercooler to chat about the great overpriced listing with the crazy seller?? It ranks right up there with the crazy tenant who swears the check is in the mail.

Seriously, I am convinced that some sellers would really rather their agent lie to them. They would rather pay the carry costs on a property for a year because Joey told them it was one in a million and should be priced as such than listen to Julie who told them the truth.

The world is a crazy place.

 

Dec 13, 2006 12:11 PM
Maureen Francis
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel - Bloomfield Hills, MI
Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel
I like it. Gave you a fiver.  I think we have the same clients.
Dec 16, 2006 01:04 PM
Chris Hendricks
Walnut Creek, CA

As I read your post I was suddenly overcome with a desire to respond to the relocation seller by saying "Hey, watch me pull this rabbit out of my hat!"

  Bullwinkle

Jan 19, 2007 10:49 AM
Ron Withers ----Retired Mortgage Professional
Kissimmee, FL

Chris,

Sometimes it can make you want to offer up a multiple choice reply:

A. What You Need to Know.

B. What You Want to Hear.

C. Little White Lies.

D. All of the Above.

Feb 06, 2007 10:33 PM
Chris Lengquist
Ad Astra Realty - Olathe, KS
Kansas City Real Estate Investing

You could always use the Jerry Seinfeld approach to answering questions...

George:  Does she have long curly hair?

Jerry: Do you want long curly hair?

George: Yes. I think that would be nice.

Jerry: Then she has long curly hair.

 

Feb 25, 2007 03:48 AM
Denise Brophy
Re/Max Realty Specialists - St Johns, NL
ABR ePRO CERC

Same here Chris.  We just received a relo referral and again told the lister that market was very soft, did a comprehensive CMA and guess what!!! they want to list it at $15,000 over the previous listing.  The property  has been on the market with another agent for over a year!  I do really feel sorry for the agent, lots of money spent on the property.  Unless we can get them to move the price downward we'll be in the same boat.  I guess listers get their kicks that way.  I think we should tell them to keep it - the market has not gotten stronger, soft was the operative word.  But what do I know!!

Feb 26, 2007 05:55 AM
T. Christopher Hill
RE/MAX TRICOUNTY - Robbinsville, NJ

  Hi Chris, I agree with all that's posted so far. For years I have been using the line" Do you want  me to lie to you,or tell you the truth ? "  Sellers always say "tell me the truth" but they LIE when they repond that way.

  We all say we want the truth,but as Jack said in the Movie "You can't handle the truth !" is still very TRUE with our sellers today. Its always dangerous to tell the truth when somebody asks certain questions, like when my wife asks, " honey how does this look............""

  As always, i'm here to help,and tell you the real deal  Chrishill@remax.net

Mar 10, 2007 03:09 AM
Heather Saul
Weichert Realtors Hoey Group - Wildwood, NJ
Too funny.  What does he mean by the warm and fuzzy feeling??  Where are these people from??  There are times when I think some sellers do not want to hear the truth.
Mar 10, 2007 06:09 AM
Chris Griffith
Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL - Bonita Springs, FL
Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
By the way, the agent they chose....that gave them the "warm and fuzzy" feeling isn't a member of our MLS and his MLS doesn't data share with ours anymore.  There isn't a snowballs chance in hell any agent will find it for sale, at this point.
Mar 10, 2007 06:19 AM
Lisa Wopschall
Blue Fin Realty, LLC - Brookings, OR
Selling & Listing Ocean Front Properties

Chris,

When I talk to sellers I tell them the Truth about what I think the listing price should be, and then some will smile sweetly and say "You may be right but..... "  This is the point where I automatically think that if I get this listing I am in for quite a bit of unproductive advertising, because the "but" always means they want to set the price much higher than it will sell for. So the thinking game of "Do I take this listing or not" begins. We really do have to LOVE what we do!! :)

Lisa Wopschall

Mar 14, 2007 03:02 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate
You took the words right out of my mouth. *SIGH*
Apr 12, 2007 04:56 AM
Christopher Webster
EXP Realty, LLC - Columbia, SC
Columbia South Carolina Real Estate For Sale
You did the right thing! Good job! I agree. Like I told an agent from NJ the other day. I'm out of my monopoly money, can I have some of yours.
Apr 12, 2007 01:38 PM
Chris Griffith
Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL - Bonita Springs, FL
Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent

Thank you for stopping in.

Aug 23, 2014 11:38 AM